Weight Control Program through the Fortification of Food Consumption Monitoring on Obese Female College Students - Using Smart-Phone with Real Time Communication Application -

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of real time communication digital photography method using Kakao Talk application in smart-phone for the fortification of food consumption monitoring and weight reduction. Thirty-four female college students were randomly assigned to the camera-phone (CP) group or smart-phone (SP) group. Each group participated in the weight control program for 8 weeks. The mean energy intake of CP group during program was 1353.5 kcal and the SP group consumed 1289.2 kcal. The total energy intake of both groups was significantly decreased during the program. The CP group lost 1.9 kg of body weight and 1.9% of body fat and the SP group lost 4.3 kg of body weight and 3.0% of body fat. The body weight was significantly decreased in the SP group compared to the CP group. The triglyceride and total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol level of SP group were significantly decreased during the program. However, there were no significant changes in CP group during the program. Also there were no significant changes in lipid profile between two groups. In this study, it is considered that real time communication digital photography method using Kakao Talk application in smart-phone might influence weight control through a trained consumption monitoring. Therefore, smart-phone can lead individuals to rely more heavily on easy-to-monitor visual cues. (Korean J Community Nutr 16(6) : 697~705, 2011)